Troy Polamalu

Troy Aumua Polamalu (ˌpoʊləˈmɑːluː; born Troy Benjamin Aumua; April 19, 1981) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 12-year career as a strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). An eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro selection, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2020, his first year of eligibility. Polamalu played college football for the USC Trojans, earning first-team All-American honors. He was chosen by the Steelers in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was a member of two Steelers' Super Bowl championship teams and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He was also the Head of Player Relations of the Alliance of American Football. Considered a "premier safety of his era" and known for his "range, explosiveness, and impact on the field," Polamalu is credited with playing a key role in the Steelers success during the 2000s. Polamalu was born in Garden Grove, California. His mother is Suila Polamalu. Polamalu is of American Samoan descent. He is the youngest of five children. His father left the family soon after Polamalu was born. Polamalu spent his early years in Santa Ana, California. At age eight, Polamalu vacationed in Tenmile, Oregon with his aunt and uncle for three weeks; afterwards, he begged his mother to let him live in Oregon. Concerned about the negative influences in nearby Los Angeles, Polamalu's mother sent him to Oregon to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousins when he was nine years old. Polamalu described his uncle, Salu Polamalu, as a disciplinarian who kept him straight. Polamalu graduated from Douglas High School in Winston, Oregon. While there, he played high school football. Following his junior season, Polamalu was named to the All-State first team and was the All-Far West League Offensive Most Valuable Player for Douglas High, which achieved a 9–1 record. He rushed for 1,040 yards with 22 touchdowns and had 310 receiving yards. On defense, he made 65 tackles and had eight interceptions.